MRSA Infection

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infection, caused by particular strains of staph bacteria, is resistant to the antibiotics that normally kill staph and can be fatal. They enter the body through cuts and openings in the skin. Two kinds of MRSA infections exist: CA-MRSA (community-associated MRSA) occurs among normally healthy people out in the community, while HA-MRSA (healthcare-associated) is found in healthcare and long-term-care facilities.

Symptoms

• MRSA infections start as small red bumps that look like pimples and transform into deep, painful abscesses that need to be drained. Sometimes the bacteria does not travel beyond the skin while at other times it will travel into the body, causing serious infections in the bones, joints, bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

Causes

• MRSA and other "super bugs" are the result of antibiotic resistance. While the evolution of bacteria plays a role, people are most responsible for this problem. Using antibiotics unnecessarily and excessively for simple infections, or for illnesses that do not respond to antibiotics, is the biggest cause. The presence of antibiotics in food and water has also allowed germs to build immunity. Lastly, germs evolve and mutate quickly and when they are not eradicated by a particular drug, they learn how to resist destruction by other ones.

Risk Factors

• Certain factors put you at risk for developing community-associated MRSA. Children are at increased risk due to immature immune systems and lack of antibodies that fight common germs. Contact sports can transfer bacteria from person to person through cuts and scrapes and skin-to-skin contact. Athletes also put themselves at risk by sharing things like equipment and towels. A weakened immune system due to disease or certain medications can lead to infection, as well as living in crowded dirty conditions and close contact with healthcare workers.

  Risk factors for contracting healthcare-associated MRSA include being in the hospital or a recent hospital stay. Older people and others with weak immunity, burns, surgical wounds or other serious health problems are most vulnerable. MRSA is also common in long-term care facilities. Using invasive devices like catheters, feeding tubes, or dialysis also increase the risk of infection. Recent treatment with certain antibiotics like floroquinolones or cephalosporin can trigger MRSA infections.

Treatment

• The antibiotic vancomycin is effective against germs that do not respond to other antibiotics, including MRSA, but recently it is showing reduced effectiveness against certain strains. Some CA-MRSA strains respond to a number of other drugs and might be used in addition. Infections confined to the skin might not require antibiotic treatment and just need to be drained.

Prevention

• Healthcare workers should wash their hands frequently, properly clean surfaces, and wear protective clothing when working with infected people. If you are in the hospital, ask workers to wash their hands before touching you and wash your own hands frequently.

  Out in the community, washing your hands is also important. Do not share personal items like towels and razors. Clean wounds regularly and keep them covered. If you are an athlete, shower right after games and do not play if you have any skin wounds that are infected. Take the full course of any antibiotics you are taking.